Anyone here have Guinea Pigs as pets?

My daughter is after one for a pet.

I understand they make quite good pets and aren't that hard to look after?

For any owners - is this true?

Cheers,
Shaun

 

The deal if she gets one is that she cleans it out twice a week and looks after food/water etc

Don't let it out?
Surely it needs out for some exercise?

Not much meat according to Wikipedia Peruvians love them
"Peruvians consume an estimated 65 million guinea pigs each year"

 

They are beautifull

Can be very effectionate, mine loved fingers, namely mine!!!

Used to clean out the cage once a week, fed on dried stuff and all the greens left over from meal prep (cauliflower husks, cabbage leaves, carrots etc).

Both mine lived till they were 6 -7. Not bad for them.

Had a summer run, about 3 sq yards, and yes they are active animals and should have a run.

 

We had one for quite some time. He was a good old boy and we enjoyed having him around.

They are susceptible to skin problems but should ok if he is well looked after.

Les

 

As in you got bitten?

I didn't think they bit, are they not pretty docile?

 

Yes, as in I got nibbled and yes they are docile. Thinks its fingers look like pale carrots, mind you I think it was my own fault, I used to feed them by hand.


If I had kids, they are 1 pet I would consider having.

 

Used to have them years ago when me and my sister were kids, my sister used to carry hers around on her shoulder he climbed up and sat there, he loved it.

I think they are great pets, need to be cleaned out reguarly, twice a week sounds good, skin prolems develop when they are in wet sawdust, they love vegetables, cucumber, carrots and lettuce as well as their dry food, they love to run around the house when they get chance but have to keep an eye on them, ours chewed through a phone cable too

 

Are they fast movers?
For example if a 10 year old let it out for play, would she be able to catch it again.

I have read mixed things on them with regards to other Guinea Pigs.
Some say they're fine alone, other say they should be in pairs for company etc.

Any thoughts?

 

I'd say they are defiinatly social animals so 2 IMHO is a must.

Mine used to love chasing each other around the summer run.

I could catch mine at 10.

 

Best served on toast with a bit of grated cheese

 

Excellent pets ... but they need a run - and really another pig or rabbit with them.

Rats are, by far, the best of all pets .... but always keep two.

One animal alone is cruel ... especially as the child will soon lose interest.

 

Agree with this, Been keeping rats for a few years now. They make excellent pets.
If you put the time in to handle them lots they will interact with you.
Our current 3 almost come when you call there name now.

 

We've had several. Nice and affectionate, love company and being handled. It's funny when you walk up to the run and they get excited and start squeeking! You do need two though.
On a few occasions when there were two left of the 3 or 4 we used to have at a time, when one of them died, the other behaviour changed completely and it died a few weeks later.

 

We had a few - nice little chaps. Girls will look after them, boys won't. Get them a nice home where that can get out of the wind and rain.

Ours lived outside in the summer with access to a run but we shut them up at night in case of foxes. We brought the home inside on cold winter nights but they are pretty tough as they live in the Andes.

Need to watch their claws and possibly front teeth as they can grow too long. Once they know you they will happily sit on a plastic bag on a lap when you watch the box. We had one that lasted for 3 days but most lasted for some years. We had those multi-coloured ones, very pretty.

Next comes a rabbit, then a puppy and finally a pony!!! So be warned. We stopped at the puppy stage.

dl

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She had a hamster a couple of years ago, all went well until it bit and drew blood one day - it didn't get much attention after that.
No puppy even - her Mum's got a cat/dog fur allergy.



So, general consensus is get a pair and not a single one

 

had them in Peru, very tastey but do look like they have been run over before cooking

 

Be careful then. I have the same fur allergy and had to eventually get rid of my 2 short haired Guinea pigs due to reactions. Just being in the same room near the sofa mean't itchy eyes etc so in the end I couldn;t play with the little buggers

Got 3 hamsters now (one Syrain and 2 Roborowski) and I can't hold them either for fear of sneezing but they're not to bad if a couple metres away (Mrs cleans them for me while I watch them in their ***** )

So long as her mum can cope with the allergy, get 1 or 2 of them. They're brilliant little pets, make awesome noises and are greedy as ****!

 

Thanks
Going to wait until new year, will probably end up getting 2 then.
I suppose its only fair